Reel



H. H. TALBOT April 25, 1933.

REEL

Filed July ll, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR H. H. TALBOT April 25, 1933.

1l, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. H. TALBOT April 25, 1933.

REEL

Filed July 11, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 NVENTOR /AWM 4 H. H. TALBOT April 25, 1933.

REEL

Filed July l1, 1929 6 Sheets-SheetI 4 H. H. TALBOT April 25, 1933.

REEL

-Filed July 11, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ma/2gb,

Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES HOWARD H. TALBOT, 0F PITTSBURGH,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB T0 UNITED ENGINEERING @c FOUNDRY COMPANY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- BATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA REEL Application med my 11,

The present invention relates broadly to the art of metal working, and more particularly to an improved reeling apparatus adapted for the effective coiling of strip material.

At the present time it is customary in the art to which this invention relates to deliver strip material from the last stand of rolls of a suitable rolling mill to coiling or reeling mechanism by means of which the material is coiled preparatory to storage thereof or the performance of other operations thereon.

Much of the strip material as delivered by rolling mills is provided with extremely smooth and finely finished surfaces adapted for the production of automobile bodies and the like.' Unless such material yis carefully handled, its surface is marred or broken to such an extent that the value thereof is materially reduced. With reels as heretofore constructed, it has been extremely difficult to provide a winding surface such as to effectively receive the material without marring or bending thereof.

The reels being principally of the collapsible type, in order to permit the release and removal of a finished coil, are usually constructed in sections adapted to be expanded or contracted. With such sectional reels, it not infrequently happens that their relationship is such as to provide portions of changing or discontinuous contour which so act upon the material being coiled as to produce distinct lines or ridges therein.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a collapsible reel of improved construction, adapted to effectively grip the end of a strip and substantially uniformly coil the same in such manner that the finished characteristics of the strip or sheet surfaces are retained.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of lillustration only, certain preferred embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through one form of reel embodying the 1929. Serial No. 377,382.

present invention, certain of the parts being illustrated in elevation;

Fi ure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the parts of the reel in collapsed condition preparatory to the commencement of a fresh coiling operation and subsequent tolthe discharge of a previously formed co1 Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line III-III of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, certain of the parts being broken away and other of the parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a modified form of reel embodying certain features of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line V-V of Figure 4, certain of the parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 6 is a detailed view, similar to Figure 4, illustrating another embodiment of the invention; and

Figure/7 is a view, similar to Figure 6, illustrating still another embodiment of the invention.

In carrying out the present invention, as illustrated more particularly in Figures l to 3 of the drawings, there is provided a rotatable drum, comprising a relatively fixed section 2, carrying at one edge thereof a pivotally mounted section 3 and' at the opposite edge a similarly pivotally mounted section 4. The section 3 may be suitably supported by means of a pivot 5, journaled in the relatively stationary section and extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum. The section 4 is in turn carried by a similar pivot 6.

Formed in the relatively stationary section 2, is a throat 7, on one side of which is provided a fixed gripper 8. Cooperating with the fixed gripper, and positioned on the opposite side of the throat, is a series of grippers 9, carried by gripping fingers 10, of substantially1 bell crank shape, mounted in axial alignment on a pivot shaft 11. This pivot shaft, like the shafts 5 and 6, is carried in the relatively fixed section 2.

Centrally mounted within the drum is a cam shaft 12, provided with a gripper actuating projection 13, adapted to alternately cooperate with the arms 14 of the lingers 10, and with the cam surfaces 15 on the arms 16.

Adjacent the gripper operating cam 13 is a second cam 17, adapted to cooperate with wearplates 18, .preferably detachably secured to the movable sect-ions 3.

On the opposite side of the cam shaft there is provided an actuating cam 19, adaptl served, 1s considerably prior to the completion of their relative angular movement.

During the lnovement described above, the cam 26 actuates the wear plate 25 and the Iillcr block 24 to move the latter out-v During the expansion of the drum as described above, the cam 13 has moved out of ed to cooperate with similar wear plates 20 engagement with the arms 14 of the gripon the movable section 4.

Extending between the sections 3 and 4, and preferably located adjacent one end thereof, is a coil spring 21, one end of which is secured to a pin 22 in the section 3, while the opposite end is secured to a similar pin 23 in the section 4. This spring is elfective for normally urging the sections 3 and 4 toward each other from the osition illustrated in Figure 1 to the-positlon illustrated in Figure 2 at such times as there is produced a relative rotation between the cam shaft l2 and the drum in the proper direction to release the parts, as will be hereinafter more fully referred to.

Pivotally carried by the movable section 4, is a filler block 24 having a wear plate 25 adapted to cooperate with the cam 26 on the cam shaft 12, the entire filler block being mounted on a suit-able pivot shaft 27, extending axially of the section 4.

Attached at one end to a suitable hook 2S in the filler block is a tension spring 29, the opposite end of this spring being secured to a fixed pin 3() in the section 4. This filler block spring is effective for normally urging the filler block from its full line position of Figure 1 into its full line position of Figure 2 upon relative rotation between the cam shaft 12 and the drum, as before referred to.

Pivotally mounted on a suitable pivot shaft 31 on the relatively fixed section 2 is a throat piece 32. Cooperating with this throat piece is a coil Aspring 33, effective for normally holding the throat piece in its outwardly projected position of Figure 2.

Assuming the parts 'to be in the position illustrated in Figure 2, the end of a strip to be coiled is inserted into the throat 7, below the throat piece 32 to an extent sutlicient to project between the grippers 8 and 9. At this time, the cam shaft 12 is rotated. in encounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure2, whereby the cams 17 and 19 in engagement with the wear plates 18 and 20, respectively, immediately actuate the movable sections 3 and 4 outwardly about theirpivotal supports 5 and 6 toward their operative positions to constitute continuations of the fixed section 2. These positions are reached when the wear plates 18 and 20 are in contact with the cam portions of greatest. radius, which, as ,Will be obper fingers 10 and has approached the surfaces 15 on the arms 16. Subsequent relative movement of the cam shaft 12 actuates the arms' 16 about their pivots 11 and the grippers cooperate with the grippers 8 to effectively grip the material to be coiled.

The latter angular movement to grip the material without affecting the positions of the sections 3 and 4 is permitted by the contours of the cams 17 and 19 because portions of uniform radius are in engagement with their respective wear plates during such latter relative movement.

The foregoing sequence of movements is important because the complete expansion of the drum should'be assured regardless of variations in thickness or position of the end of the strip of material to be engaged by the grippers. Such complete expansion might not be possible in every case if the operations were simultaneous because variations in the final positions of the grippers would, of course, cause unequal'degrees of expansion of the drum.

Upon the completion of the rotation of the cam shaft 12 relatively to the drum, the relatively movable parts have all been forced into their final positions such that further movement thereofV relatively to the section 2 is prevented. Thereupon', the drum, as a whole .is caused to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, in such manner that the gripped material is wound upon the periphery there-v of. After the winding has continued for a sutiicient time to substantially-.complete one revolution of the drum, the material engages the throat ieee 32 and forces it from its position of Figure 2 into its position of Figure 1,in which it closes the throat and provides a substantially continuous surface upon which the material may be coiled. This rotation of the cam shaft 12, with its accompanying rotation of the coiling drum, continues until such time as the coiling operation of a particular stri has been completed, at which time a suitable brake, not shown, is applied to the cam shaft to check further free rotation thereof.

The drum, however, being rotatable relatively to the cam shaft, continues a rotational movement in its previously driven direction due not only to the inertia ofthe drum: and its associated parts, but also to the inertia of the coiled material. This -causes the drumto over-run the cam shaft,

whereby the parts move from their relative positions of Figure l into the collapsed position of Figure 2. In this position, the winding surface of the drum is sufiiciently decreased to permit the formed coil to be readily stripped therefrom. After the stripping operation has been completed, the throat piece 32 moves to its full line position of Figure 2, and the parts are ready for a succeeding coiling operation.

By reference more particularly to Figure 3, it will be apparent that thecontracting spring 21 is located adjacent the left hand end of the coiling drum, the spring extending along the axis generally indicated by the line a-a of this gure. The iiller piece tension spring 29, on the other hand, is conveniently located adjacent the opposite end of the drum, the cam shaft 12 being provided with the reduced portion 33 in order provide clearance for the unrestricted operation of this spring.

From they foregoing description, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that the greater the resistance to forward travel of the material being coiled, the tighter Yit will be gripped between the grippers. 8 and 9, so that these grippers are automatically effective for producing the movement of the material necessary to a desired coiling operation.

The relationship of the various sections, together with the throat piece 32 and the filler block 24, `is such that a substantially continuous and unbroken coiling surface is provided, whereby the material is. not subjected to an abrupt change in its direction of travel, such as to produce undesirable ridges therein.

In Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, there is illustrated a slightly modified embodiment of the invention, in which parts corre- 4sponding to the parts already described are designated by similar reference characters having a prime aflixed thereto.

In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the adjacent edges of the sections 3 and 4 are provided with axially extending pivot shafts 35, with which cooperate toggles 36, preferably arranged in pairs, as clearly indicated in Figure 4. 'Ihe respective pairs of toggles are connected by pins 37 which carry, adjacent their opposite ends., rollers 38 adapted to cooperate with cams 39 on the cam shaft 12. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the cam 39 is discontinuous to provide recesses for the reception of the contracting springs 21 which, in accordance with this embodiment of the invention, may be secured at their opposite ends to axially extending shafts 40, having offset portions 40m forming seats for retaining the springs in their desired positions.

The relationship of the parts is such that with the relatively movable sections 3 and 4 in their full expanded position, as illus.- trated in Figure 4, thc toggle links 36 Will not be in straight line position, but will be sufficiently offset one from the other to permit the springs 21 to contract the sections upon an over-running movement between the drum and the shaft such as to move the cam 39 out of engagement with the rollers .38. This. contractingmovement of the sections may, however, bepositivcly insured by providing one of each of the toggles with the knocker arm 41 projecting inwardly into such position as to be engaged by one side of the cam 39 upon over-running movement of the character referred to. This overrunning movement, with both forms of my invention,.may be limited by providing the relatively fixed section with a stop 42, as illustrated in Figuresl l and 2, orvwith a stop 42', as illustrated in Figure 4, adapted to cooperate with a suitably shaped surface 43, on the cam shaft l2, or with a similar surface 43 on the cam shaft 12. By reason of this positive control of the over-running movement,vthe parts are prevented from a relative movement to such an extent as to bring them out of proper cooperative rela-l tionship. This obviates the necessity of any adjustment of the parts prior to the commencement o a succeeding coiling operation.

It will be apparent that if the entire surfaces 44 of the sections 3 and 4 of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure 4 were formed with a common radius, that the nose portions 45 of such sections would be apt to form ridges on the material being coiled due to the fact that the material in passing over the gap between the nose sections would change from a substantially arcuate condition to a substantially tangential condition. In order to minimize such an effect, I may, and preferably do, construct the nose pieces in any desired portion of their length, in such manner that they have a radius of curvature which is considerably greater than the radius of curvature of the main portion of the sections 3 and 4. The radii of curvature of the nose portions and main portions of the sections is so chosen that they gradually emerge one with the other to prevent any abrupt change in the direction of travel of the material, while at the same time providing extreme ends, the surfaces of which are substantially tangent to the normal periphery of the drum.

In addition to forming the relatively movable sections in such manner that their winding portions embody Sections of different curvature, I preferably curve the extreme ends thereof, as'clearl illustrated in Figure 4, whereby the poss1bility of marring the material is further minimized.

In orderv to further reduce the possibility of marring the material, I may modify the construction of the nose portions of the relatively movable section, in the mann r illustrated in Figure 6, by providing the sa'me with axially spaced fingers 46 adapted to intel-fit one with the other and thus provide a substantially continuous winding surface, giving substantially the characteristics of the surface provided by the use of' a separate filler block, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

In such case, the radius of curvature of the winding surfaces of the fingers 46 may constitute an exact continuation of the main portions of the sections 3 and 4 respectively, or they may have a modified radius of curvature, such as to effect a gradual transition from an arc into substantially a tangent and then into an arc, whereby an abrupt change in the characteristics of the winding surface is obviated.

In Figure 7 there is illustrated still another embodiment of the invention, similar in many respects to that illustrated in '1 Figures 4, 5 and 6. In accordance with this embodiment, however, the movable throat pieces corresponding to the parts 32 and 32 before described are replaced by a stationary extension 50 carrying a hardened nose piece 51, thereby providing a narrow throat 52 of fixed dimensions through which the material to be handled is adapted to be inserted.

lhe construction embodies a movable gripper 53 similar in construction and operatlon to that before described, and adapted to be operated by the cam shaft 54 upon rotation thereof relative to the reel proper. Cooperating with the relatively fixed section 55 carrying the projection 50 are movable sectlons 56 and 57 similar to the sections 3.-4 and 3-4 before described. For operatlng these movable sections, however, there are provided toggles 58 and 59 of the Pitman type. These toggles, of which there may be any desired number, are held in al'gned relationship by shafts 60 and 61 eX- tending through the toggles and carried entlrely thereby. For taking the thrust of the toggles, the respective movable sections are provided with hardened bearing inserts 62 and 63, so positioned as to take the direct thrust of the toggles when they are in such position, as illustrated in Figure 7, as to ex and the relatively movable sections.

or insuring movement of the toggles in synchronism, their cooperating ends may be shaped to receive pins 64 and 65 which carry toothed members 66 and 67 adapted to intermesh in manner illustrated. Also carried by these pins, which are generally similar to the shafts 60 and 61 before described, are interconnectingl links 65 tying the toggles 58 and 59 together and maintaining the teeth 66 and 67 in cooperative engagement. For urging the relatively movable sections-56 and 57 into collapsed position, there may be provided one or more springs 68 extending between such movable sections and secured thereto by means of detachable plates 69 of such contour that the ends of the springs may be hooked thereover in the manner illustrated.

Similarly to the construction illustrated in Figure 6, the ends of the movable sections may be provided with staggered overlapping fingers 70, similar in construction to the fingers 46 before described. Cooperating wlth these fingers for providing a winding surface of. continually unbroken contour is a flexible winding plate 71, herein illustrated as rigidly secured to the movable section 56 in any desired manner as, for example, by means of screws 72. The free end 73 of this plate extends over fingers 70 and into a suitably shaped recess in the movable section 57. When the toggles are moved into such position as to cause the movable sections 56 and 57 to collapse, the spring plate 71 will move to a position substantially as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 7, from which position it will again take its full line position when the sectionsare expanded.

With all of the forms of my invention there is provided a collapsible reel, adapted upon the commencement of a reeling operation to automatically grip the material to be coiled to an extent commensurate with the drag or resistance of the material, and to thereafter continuously wind or coil the same about a surface so constructed that the coiled material is free from ridges or breaks. Upon the conclusion of such winding or coiling operation, the inertia of certain of the rotating parts is sufficient to automatically collapse the drum to an extent sufficient to permit free stripping of the finished coil from the reel. This collapsing operation is accompanied by simultaneous movement of the gripping means such as to release the previously gripped end of the material, as will be readily apparent.

While I have herein .illustrated and described certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that changes in the construction, operation, and relationship of the. parts may be made Without departing either from the spirit of my invention or the scope of my broader claims.

l. In a reel, the combination with a plurality of relatively movable sections, of pivoted gripping means cooperating with one of said sections, and a cam shaft for successively expanding said sections and turning said ipping means into operative position.

2. fili a reel, the combination wit 1 a plurality of relatively movable sections, of pivoted gripping means cooperating wlth one of said sections, and means for successively expanding said sections and turning said gripping means into operative position, said last mentioned means comprising a cam shaft within said drum and rotatable relatively thereto.

3. In a collapsible block, a drive shaft for rotating the block, a stationary segment, a pair of segments pivoted` at opposite sides of said segment and extending in opposite directions therefrom, a mlovable section capable of closing the space between the free ends of said segments when the block is expanded, a jaw section movable toward and from the stationary segment, a jaw on said latter segment adapted -to cooperate therewith to grip a strip to be wound, said segments and-sections being mounted for limited turning movement relative to the shaft, and means for connecting the movable segments and said sections with the shaft to shift them by said relative turning movements.

4. In a collapsible block, a stationary segment, two pivoted segments at opposite sides of the stationary segment and extending in oposite directions therefrom, a third movable section between the free ends of the. two pivoted segments, a drive shaft concentric of the block for rotating the block, said segments having limited turning movement relative to said shaft, and means operated by said relativeiimovement to shift the segments and section to expand and collapse the block.

5. In a reel, a drum comprising a relatively fixed section and a relatively movable section, pivoted gripping means cooperating with one of said sections, and a cam shaft for driving said drum and for effecting successive operation of said relatively movable section and said gripping means.

6. In a reel, a rotatable drum comprising a section fixed relative to the axis thereof, relatively movable sections hinged to opposite edges thereof, gripping devices carried by one of said sections, and a cam shaft relatively rotatable about the same axis as said drum, said shaft bein@ effective upon rotation in'one direction fuor effecting drum-expanding movement of said relatively movable sections and the operation of said 'gripping devices.

7 In a reel, a. drum comprising a section fixed relative to the axis thereof, relatively movable sections movably cooperating with opposite edges thereof, gripping devices carried by one of said sections, a cam shaft relativelyrotatable about the same axis as said druml, said shaft being effective upon rotation in one direction for effeting drumexpanding movement of said rel tively movable sections and said gripping devices, and means cooperating with said relatively movable sections for contracting the same upon relative rotation of the cam shaft in the opposite direction.

8. In a reel, a drum comprising a section fixed relative to the axis thereof and a relatively movable section, pivoted gripping means cooperating with one of said sections, and a cam shaft for effecting successive operation of said relatively mlovable section and said gripping means.

9. In a reel, a drum comprising a section fixed relative to the axis thereof and a relatively movable section, pivoted gripping means cooperating with one of said sections, and a cam shaft for effecting sequential operation of said gripping means and said relatively movable section. g

10. In a reel, a drum comprising a section xed relative to the axis thereof and having a throat therein, a collapsible section, gripping means pivoted to said section within said throat, and a cam shaft for successively expanding said collapsible section andv turning said gripping means y into -operative position.

l1. In a reel, a drum comprising a section fixed relative to the axis thereof, a plurality of relatively movable sections cooperating therewith, movable gripping means cooperating therewith, and a cam shaft for effecting successive operation of said relatively movable sections and said gripping means.

12. In a reel, a drum comprising a section fixed relative to the axis thereof, a plurality of relatively movable sections cooperating therewith, 'pivoted gripping means cooperating therewith, and means for effecting successive operation of said relatively movable sections and said gripping means, said last-mentioned means comprising a cam shaft within said drum and rotatable relatively thereto.

13. In a reel, the combination with a plurality of relatively movable sections constituting a winding drum, of a shaft extending substantially axially of said drum, and adapted to support the same in operative position, pivoted gripping means cooperating with one of said sections, and a cam on said shaft for successively effecting an expansive movement of said sections and the operation of said gripping device upon rotative movement thereof in one direction.

14. A reel comprising an arcuate carrying plate, other carrying plates hinged thereto and disposed to swing inwardly at their free ends, and a toggle mechanism connected to said free ends for expanding the hinged plates into operative position.

l5. A reel comprising an arcuate carrying plate, other carrying plates hinged thereto and disposed to swing inwardly at their free ends, and a link mechanism connecting the free ends of said hinged plates, said link mechanism constituting a toggle for expanding the reel into cylindrical shape.

16. A reel for winding strip material, comprising a hub portion, Aarms extending from the hub portion at one side thereof, a segment of cylmdrical outer contour carried by said arms, other segments -ivotally connected lto each end of said xed segment, and a toggle mechanism joinin the free ends of said pivoted segments, W ereby the reel may be expanded to cylindrical shape or collapsed for removing reeled material.

17. In a reel, in combination, a shaft, a body portion journalled on the shaft, hinged carrying plates mounted on the body portion, a toggle mechanism for expanding the carryin plates a material ip in member cariiied by the body portigdmlan means rigidly mounted on the shaft for operating the toggle mechanism and for operating the material gripping member when the body portion is turned relative tc the shaft.

18. In a reel, a rotatable drum comprising two collapsible sections, a third sect.` on to which said two sections are movably c nnected, a gripping device carried by one of said sections, and means comprising a member movable relative to said third section for successively controlling the positions of said collapsible sections and sald gripping device.

19. In a reel, a rotatable drum comprising a collapsible section, a section connected thereto and having a gripping device cooperating therewith, and a cam shaft movable relative to said drum operable in one direction of relative movement to successively expand said collapsible section and actuate said gripping device to operative position and in the other direction of relative movement to control the positions of said devices in reverse order.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HOWARD H. TALBOT. 

